Source Code (12A)

Film

Thrillers

sourcecodeREV806

Time Out rating:

<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5

User ratings:

<strong>Rating: </strong>3/5
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Time Out says

Tue Mar 29 2011

Based on a hardcore sci-fi premise, but staged with a Hitchcockian lightness that injects romance and humour into a potentially bleak terrorist bomb scenario, this second film from the director of ‘Moon’ is an emotionally engaging time-travel puzzle piece. It may not be ‘Un film de Duncan Jones’, but it is an efficient, entertaining thriller that features several striking signature sequences and some smart conceptual ideas.

Jake Gyllenhaal is edgy and engaging as confused Blackhawk helicopter pilot Captain Colter Stevens, who wakes up on a Chicago commuter train with no clue how he got there or what his ‘mission’ is. The attractive woman seated opposite, Christina (Michelle Monaghan), seems to think he’s a school teacher called Sean, and the face reflected in the train window is not his. Suddenly, an explosion rips through the train, and Colter finds himself in what may be the cockpit of his crashed chopper. Via a video screen, uniformed military ‘minder’ Goodwin (Vera Farmiga) explains that Colter is part of an experimental project, which allows access to a parallel reality for eight minutes at a time. And he has to keep going back in – not to stop the explosion, which has already happened, but to identify the terrorist on the train, who has also planted a ‘dirty bomb’ in the city.

Rather than get bogged down in the scientific explanations, Ben Ripley’s intricate script and Jones’s brisk direction invite us to climb aboard and enjoy the ride. But if you want to dig deeper, there is some serious stuff about a guy lost in fragments of time, groping towards a sense of his own identity. There’s also an involving emotional undertow, thanks to Colter’s fragmented romance with Monaghan’s loveable teacher-next-door and the burgeoning human connection between Farmiga’s delicately nuanced ‘minder’ and Gyllenhaal’s angry yet vulnerable guinea pig.

Author: Nigel Floyd

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Release details

Rated:

12A

UK release:

Fri Apr 1 2011

Duration:

93 mins

Cast and crew

Director:

Duncan Jones

Cast:

Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga

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Comments & ratings

Rated as: 3/5 (22 ratings)

  • I am surprised to see negative ratings. It's a movie to pay attention to maybe not constantly but you have to watch it. The ending is what makes the movie and if you don't see how it comes to be, you've missed it all. I would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a good movie with no bad language, nudity, or other negative things that would be there if you wanted to watch it with your pastor.

    Regina About 10 days ago
    Rated as: 5/5
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  • Thoroughly enjoyable film. Loved it from start to finish.

    Tom D Thu Jul 19 2012
    Rated as: 4/5
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  • For my money, a gripping thriller with an excellent performance from Jake Gyllenhaal - all eyes, military training and edginess. Michelle Monaghan also great, and the chemistry between the two leads kept me hanging in through all the repeats. I did find the Vera Farmiga role a bit unrealistic - lots of close-ups of facial emoting, meant to signal to the audience her inner conflict, yawn. And of course the basic sci fi premise isn't logical - but I've seen a lot worse movies in the last couple of years that pretended to be deep and significant. This movie focuses on the action and it delivers. From the opening shots it had confidence and direction - well worth the watch.

    Fran Sat May 28 2011
    Rated as: 4/5
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  • good but not as good as moon.

    chris jackson Mon May 23 2011
    Rated as: 3/5
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  • Trailer of this movie is promising and pulse raising,but actual movie didnt live upto expectations..just ok kind of movie..

    Raghu Wed May 4 2011
    Rated as: 2/5
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  • its a good film soo far.

    sami Wed Apr 27 2011
    Rated as: 3/5
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  • Good enough to pass the time making a racket eating popcorn and playing with your phone

    Paul Sat Apr 23 2011
    Rated as: 3/5
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  • Groundhog Day meets Heroes (series 1). OK entertainment but hardly anything special. Guardian critics kept refering to Hitchcock, other than being a thriller where's his influence in this film? Typical American Smaltzy ending rather ruined the plot.

    Robert Thornton Tue Apr 19 2011
    Rated as: 3/5
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  • Efficient sci-fi thriller.

    critique Mon Apr 18 2011
    Rated as: 3/5
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  • Seen much worse , loved the panoramics & city overheads . Contrast with our heroes world , or saying "you've come far enough"? . Bit of a , not you again feeling whenever reunited with the love interest , for me. I could'nt square with the hard nosed merciless attitude of national security & the mushy farce into which we were dumped . In all , more likes than dislikes .

    Maxbax Fri Apr 15 2011
    Rated as: 3/5
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